António Guterres nominated by Security Council for second term as UN chief

The UN Security Council has formally selected the current Secretary-General António Guterres as its nominee to serve a second five-year term in the UN top job.

The recommendation, made in a resolution adopted by acclamation in a private meeting Tuesday, will go to the 193-member General Assembly for formal approval.

Estonia’s UN Ambassador Sven Jurgenson, as Security Council president for the month of June, announced the endorsement after the private meeting of the council and said the General Assembly is likely to hold a session on June 18 on Guterres’ appointment for a second term.

“The Security Council, having considered the question of the recommendation for the appointment of the secretary-general of the United Nations, recommends to the General Assembly that Mr. Antonio Guterres be appointed secretary-general of the United Nations for a second term of office from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2026,” reads the one-sentence Resolution 2580.

Guterres was the only official candidate as no state has nominated any contender, said Jurgenson.

Jurgenson said Guterres has proven worthy of the post of secretary-general with his performance in the almost five years in office.

“We all have seen, actually, the secretary-general in action. I think he has been an excellent secretary-general,” he told the media.

Jurgenson lauded Guterres as a bridge-builder and commended him for his views on the conflict zones in the world.

Guterres thanked the Security Council for its endorsement and the member states for their trust.

“It has been an immense privilege to be at the service of ‘we, the peoples’ and at the helm of the amazing women and men of this Organization for the past four and a half years, when we have been facing so many complex challenges”, said the UN chief.